All physician assistant training programs are accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).  In addition to ARC-PA accreditation, the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) must approve the program prior to student enrollment.

 

By ARC-PA rules, new programs can only have provisional accreditation status. The ARC-PA grants a PA program full accreditation status only after the first class graduates. Accreditation is maintained through regular program self-assessment and review by the ARC-PA.

 

Graduates of a provisionally accredited program have the same rights as graduates of fully accredited programs, and are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE) and to apply for state licensure upon graduation.  

 

Rush University has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (formerly the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education) since 1974. The commission completed the most recent accreditation review in 2008, which granted continuing accreditation to Rush University for 10 years. The next comprehensive HLC evaluation will occur in 2018 - 2019.

 

All Rush University degree programs offering clinical training in health care practice or administration are accredited by their respective specialty governing body.

 

 

The IBHE approved the Rush University College of Health Sciences Master's of Science in physician assistant studies in October 2010.

 

The ARC-PA granted the PA studies program provisional accreditation in March 2010, valid through March 2014.